Roasted meat supplier, seafood importer fined over food safety lapses

SINGAPORE: Two companies and their directors were fined for food safety lapses, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Wednesday (Jan 31).

Food processing establishment Hai's Roasted Meat Supplier was fined S$30,000 after SFA uncovered multiple food safety offences during several inspections in 2022.

These included the cutting of roasted meat, packing of sauces and storing meat outside the licensed premises. The floor of the chiller room and ceiling within the premises were also found to be dirty, SFA said.

The company’s director, Luo Lianghai, was fined S$7,500 for failing to prevent the offence from being committed.

“Food safety is a joint responsibility as food can be contaminated anywhere along the food chain,” said SFA. “While SFA continues to be vigilant and works to ensure regulatory measures are in place and properly enforced, the industry and consumers must also play their part.”

“Food establishments should ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained, as well as adhere to proper food hygiene and food safety requirements,” SFA added.

Offenders of food safety regulations may be jailed up to 12 months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.

Meanwhile, food importer Golden Ocean Seafood was fined S$25,000 for failing to arrange for SFA to inspect, examine and certify three live oyster consignments from France in December 2022 before selling them.

For failing to prevent the offence from being committed, the company’s director, Sakita Goichi, was also fined S$25,000.

SFA reminded importers that fish products must be inspected, examined and certified by an authorised examiner before they are sold, distributed or exported.

Fish products found to be unfit for human consumption will be seized and disposed of, said SFA.

Those who fail to arrange for their fish imports to be inspected, examined, and certified by an authorised examiner before sale or distribution may be jailed up to 12 months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.

Offenders who sell fish consignments which have not been inspected may be jailed up to two years, fined up to S$50,000 or both. The jail term and fine go up to three years and S$100,000 respectively for repeat offenders.